How Mediation Works
- Is a safe neutral environment where you can discuss issues
- Promotes communication and cooperation
- Provides options for you to explore
- Enables you to make the decisions that affect your life
- Benefits children and others by reducing conflict
- Produces a lasting agreement for the future
- Helps to avoid costly contested court proceedings
Family Mediation works in the way that is best for your family.
You Can Choose
- To come to a first meeting on your own or with another family member
- Or you and your former partner can come together – you will still get some time on your own with the mediator
After that, the mediator will meet with you both in a series of meetings. You will each have an idea of the problems or issues needed to be resolved but your ideas may be different.
The Mediator Will Help You
- To focus on your children and what they need from each of you
- To improve your communication by concentrating on the future, not your shared past
- To resolve the issues and to reach agreement where possible
- And will work with you and your former partner to find the best way forward so that you reach a compromise acceptable to both parties
There are as many reasons for separation or divorce, as there are couples who separate. No matter how friendly, most separations bring sadness, blame and sometimes a sense of failure. These feelings are natural and important.
Mediation focuses on the decisions that you need to make about your future without ignoring the emotion and pain of your separation. If you feel you need to work on those feelings you may want to consider also some therapy or counselling. We can tell you where such help is available.
"could not think that the adversarial system improved parents' relationship with each other or their relationship as mother and father of their children"
House of Commons' Justice Committee Enquiry
